Chinese Classical Furniture

Chinese Classical Furniture

Classical Chinese furniture has a timeless appeal that never goes out of style. Our signature range of traditional Chinese furniture is handcrafted from reclaimed elm or poplar wood, and includes reproductions from China's golden age as well as more contemporary designs inspired by the same period. The range includes oriental cabinets, beautifully crafted chairs, Chinese blanket chests and much more.

Child's Yoke-Back Armchair, Black Lacquer
£395.00

Child's Yoke-Back Armchair, Black Lacquer

CT18D

This is a mini version of our classic black lacquer yoke-back armchair, with the same curved headrest and arms as the larger version, it is scaled ...

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£395.00
Two Drawer Filing Cabinet, Warm Elm
£745.00

Two Drawer Filing Cabinet, Warm Elm

TK18N

This small warm colour filing cabinet is in solid elm wood and has the same distinctive style as the larger version but with two drawers instead of...

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£745.00
Two Drawer Filing Cabinet, Black Lacquer
£745.00

Two Drawer Filing Cabinet, Black Lacquer

TK18D

Each drawer of our black lacquer small filing cabinet includes metal poles to fit standard A4 suspension files, it is made in solid poplar wood and...

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£745.00
Two Drawer Filing Cabinet, Light Elm
£745.00

Two Drawer Filing Cabinet, Light Elm

TK18M

Adding a touch of oriental style to a home office, this small light coloured filing cabinet is in solid elm wood and has the same distinctive style...

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£745.00
Small Herbalist Chest, Warm Elm
£645.00

Small Herbalist Chest, Warm Elm

TK16N

Chinese herbalists used chests containing dozens of small drawers to hold their medicines for hundreds of years. This little warm elm chest is a mo...

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£645.00
Small Herbalist Chest, Black Lacquer
£645.00

Small Herbalist Chest, Black Lacquer

TK16D

This little black lacquer chest is a modern take on the old apothecary chest, smaller in size but with drawers made larger so that they are ideally...

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£645.00
Small Herbalist Chest, Light Elm
£645.00

Small Herbalist Chest, Light Elm

TK16M

Made from solid wood, our light elm herbalist chest has drawers that are all made with dovetail joints and a simple brass ring pull on the front. C...

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£645.00
Carved Side Table, Warm Elm
£545.00

Carved Side Table, Warm Elm

CT20N

This lovely little warm elm side table has exactly the same features as our carved console table, but sized to sit perfectly next to a sofa or a be...

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£545.00
Carved Side Table, Black Lacquer
£545.00

Carved Side Table, Black Lacquer

CT20D

The oriental look of our black lacquer side table is completed with the elegant 'horse hoof' feet. Though the proportions are slightly lower, the o...

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£545.00
Carved Side Table, Light Elm
£545.00

Carved Side Table, Light Elm

CT20M

With the same features as our carved console table, these lovely little side tables, like the light elm model above, are sized to sit perfectly nex...

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£545.00
Square Stool, Warm Elm
£445.00

Square Stool, Warm Elm

CT23N

Our warm elm version is a faithful reproduction of the classic design, and has a rattan top set within the seat. It works well for occasional seati...

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£445.00
Square Stool, Black Lacquer
£445.00

Square Stool, Black Lacquer

CT23D

Unlike in other Asian countries, where people continued to sit on the floor centuries later, the Chinese quickly developed higher level seating and...

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£445.00
Square Stool, Light Elm
£445.00

Square Stool, Light Elm

CT23M

Stools and higher level seating were in use throughout China from as early as the Tang dynasty over a thousand years ago, unlike in other Asian cou...

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£445.00
Carved Panel - 'Courage', Warm Elm
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Courage', Warm Elm

CSW06AN

Finished in warm elm this panel is designed to represent one of the 'Four Nobles', the central carving is made from camphor, a wood which is easy t...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Courage' Black Lacquer
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Courage' Black Lacquer

CSW06AD

Designed to represent one of the 'Four Nobles', this version is finished in our black lacquer, the central carving being made from camphor, a wood ...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Purity', Warm Elm
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Purity', Warm Elm

CSW06BN

This panel is finished in our warm elm and is designed to represent one of the 'Four Nobles', the central carving depicts orchids a symbol of purit...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Purity', Black Lacquer
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Purity', Black Lacquer

CSW06BD

The central carving of our black lacquer panel is made from camphor, a wood which is easy to carve, the design represents one of the 'Four Nobles',...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Uprightness', Warm Elm
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Uprightness', Warm Elm

CSW06CN

With a frame made from fir wood, our warm elm panel has a design that represents one of the 'Four Nobles', the central carving here depicts bamboo ...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Uprightness', Black Lacquer
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Uprightness', Black Lacquer

CSW06CD

The carving in the centre of our black lacquer panel depicts bamboo a symbol of uprightness and is made from camphor, a wood which is easy to carve...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Humility', Warm Elm
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Humility', Warm Elm

CSW06DN

Our solid wood panel, here finished in our warm elm is a representation of one of the 'Four Nobles', the carving set within the centre is surrounde...

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£365.00
Carved Panel - 'Humility', Black Lacquer
£365.00

Carved Panel - 'Humility', Black Lacquer

CSW06DD

Representing one of the 'Four Nobles', this particular panel, in our black lacquer finish, depicts chrysanthemums which symbolise humility. This ce...

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£365.00
Tall Trunk, Black Lacquer Save 55%
£545.00
£245.00

Chinese Black Lacquer Trunk, Tall - Clearance Item

TK17DXX

Made from solid reclaimed poplar wood, our black lacquer blanket boxes use proper dovetail joints and the distinctive circular brass hardware and r...

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£545.00
£245.00
Save 55%
Square Stool, Warm Elm Save 35%
£445.00
£290.00

Square Stool, Warm Elm - Clearance Item

CT23NXX

Our warm elm version is a faithful reproduction of the classic design, and has a rattan top set within the seat. It works well for occasional seati...

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£445.00
£290.00
Save 35%
Square Stool, Black Lacquer, Clearance Item Save 30%
£445.00
£310.00

Square Stool, Black Lacquer - Clearance Item

CT23DXX

Unlike in other Asian countries, where people continued to sit on the floor centuries later, the Chinese quickly developed higher level seating and...

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£445.00
£310.00
Save 30%

The history of Chinese Classical Furniture

Classical Chinese furniture refers to a style and an aesthetic taste, of restraint, balance and grandeur, rather than to a particular period. Plain hardwoods, like the reclaimed woods we use for these reproductions, were always accorded high esteem by Chinese craftsmen from the Qing dynasties onwards. Trade had recently opened, and tropical hardwoods from South-East Asia were beginning to be imported. It was these strong hardwoods which allowed the craftsmen to create austere, slender legged chairs and tables which showed off the beauty of the precious wood, alongside the lacquered furniture which was equally prized. Here at Shimu, we’re very happy to be continuing the tradition of Chinese classical furniture, and to be bringing you these beautiful pieces of furniture to show off in your home.

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